Local News

For democracy to work, it requires an engaged, well-informed public. And that is why open govenment, or sunshine laws, are in place so citizens can see and participate in the workings of their government.

Tennessee Coalition for Open Government and its director, Deborah Fisher, work to educate the public — and sometimes government entities — on these laws. It also spotlights abuses and works with the public to help correct them.

Roane County Executive Ron Woody said he wasn’t surprised the County Commission turned down the Board of Education’s request for a 9-cent increase in the property tax rate.

“I still think it was because the commission did not have the substance that they needed to sink their teeth into something that they could really support,” Woody said. “I think that was the biggest problem right there. The commission does not have good data from the schools.”

School officials provide commissioners a copy of their proposed budget each year.

Serious issues and serious work now abound in this relatively young method by which we not only exchange information, but also to rally to causes and hold public officials accountable.

Just a few years ago, scarcely a few percent of Americans turned to Twitter, Facebook and the like for real news and issues. The medium was dismissed as the stuff of gossip, personal notes and largely meaningless personal snapshots.